As Ties Worsen, Pakistan Foreign Office Says No High-Level Contact With US

US-Pakistan relations have been trending downward since President Trump’s speech on Afghanistan, in which he blamed Pakistan for giving “safe havens” to terrorists. This has fueled an angry back and forth, and some anti-US protests within Pakistan.

There don’t appear to be any specific plans for any meetings in the future, either, Despite President Trump admitting how important engagement with Pakistan was. Pakistan’s Prime Minister Abbasi is visiting the US for the annual UN General Assembly, and is hoping to meet with some administration officials.

The goal in such meetings, if indeed they happen, is to “allay misperceptions” about Pakistan’s treatment of the Taliban. US officials claim that Pakistan is supporting the Taliban, while Pakistani officials note that the Afghan Taliban have at least as many “safe havens” in Afghanistan, and the US has been no more successful at stamping out such areas than Pakistan has.

Besides the new “safe havens” charge against Pakistan, there is also the US desire to have a greater India presence in Afghanistan. Support Pakistan’s enemy on its western flank? Not a good idea. So Pakistan is jacking up its friendship with China.